FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, file photo Shawn Scott testifies during a hearing before the Maine Harness Racing Commission, in Augusta, Maine. The out-of-state gambling entrepreneur pocketed tens of millions of dollars after his successful referendum to create Maine's first casino in Bangor. Critics say he's poised to do it again. Scott emerged as a key backer of a new casino proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot after his sister retreated from her fundraising role amid an investigation over the source of $4.3 million in donations. (AP Photo/Joel Page, File)

Pro-casino PAC picks up nearly $700K in contributions

Nov. 02, 2017

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Money is continuing to pour into the campaign for a casino in southern Maine in the final days leading up to the election.

Campaign finance reports indicate nearly $700,000 has been contributed in recent days to Progress for Maine, a political action committee. That includes $450,000 from gambling entrepreneur Shawn Scott's Capital Seven LLC. The rest came from companies in Tokyo and New York.

That brings to about $5 million the amount raised by the PAC. More than $4 million was also spent to gather signatures. The opposition has raised $700,000.

Voters will have the final say on Nov. 7 on the proposal for the state's third casino. The referendum is worded in such a way that only Scott or one of his entities could run it.